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Eighteen degrees, yo.

We are experiencing a true heat wave, you guys. Last week the highs topped out below zero. I think one day it got up to -7 degrees....for the freaking HIGH. I was minorly depressed and had to sing mantras to myself repeatedly, like: "I will not look at real estate in Hawaii, I will be content with this miserableness."

And then, today it got up to 18 degrees [above zero!]. It felt like a heat wave, I am not joking. Now normally I run once on a given weekend and yesterday I just so happened to run six miles on the gym treadmill. That has been my norm lately since the treadmills there have their own televisions embedded into them! It's like paradise. I get to watch the following shows without hearing Nate yell obscenities about 'crap on TV": ANTM, Real Housewives of Orange County/Atlanta/New York, Split Ends, Bad Girls Club, The City, The Real World, and unlimited wedding shows of all varieties. It's like my own little slice of heaven and thus, I can stand running in place for an hour or more. Yep, I've officially become a hamster on a wheel, so sue me.

So anyway, since I had my little TV fling at the gym yesterday I was NOT planning on running again today. That would be just plain ridiculous, right? But you see, I had about 4-5 cups of coffee this morning and when I do that I need to run....or risk seeing double all day long, jumping around, acting like a general fool. I had the energy, it was sunny, and relatively warm. I just had to do it.

So I geared up in my new pimped out running attire I received for Christmas. I pulled out this new....device that I thought might be a cowl neck turtleneck thingy. You know, like a dicky? But only for running. I thought it was made to pull over your head and then keep your neck warm while you run. But THEN I really smartened up and discovered that this dicky was actually designed to pull up over my chin and nose to make a mask! My very own running mask I never knew I had! It was meant to be. See? Don't I look like a mighty Ninja?

I got dressed and decided to do the proper thing, and take some pictures. Never a better time to test out my self-timer, right?

Then I was off to run a planned 6-8 miles or so. I logged 8 a few weekends ago when it was 25 degrees outside, so 18 couldn't be much worse, right? WRONG. I immediately regretted this decision.

You see, my running tights are pretty pimp and all but the frigid wind cut right through those suckers. My butt cheeks were numb within five minutes. Since I was running on crunchy, packed snow the cold seeped through my shoes and socks and made my toes lose all feeling within 10 minutes. This was not good.

The face mask/dicky thingy was awesome but all it really did was trap my snot inside thus rubbing it all over my face. Pretty disgusting, I know, but I feel like I must tell you this so you understand winter running. You know, just in case you thought running in 18 degree weather was painless.

I decided to call it quits after a measly 3 miles all in the name of saving my toes. And when I returned indoors I noticed that there were actual icicles in my eyelashes. I thought only hard core runners boasted those beauties!

You have no idea how many shots I took trying to zoom in on my own eyelashes. It was no easy feat but you can definitely see them on my hat at least.

Hi, pores!! Hi frozen sweaty pores!!

After a warm shower my circulation recovered and I was, in fact, able to keep all of my appendages on my body. I'm pretty sure I'll stick to my guns and say that 25 degrees [above zero] is my absolute limit for outdoor running. That is, of course, unless I chug lots of coffee again. Then anything is possible.

And what good would this post be without a Henry shot? Sunshine and snow make for some pretty good light cause this one isn't even edited.

Geesh, lots of posting for me this weekend. It's like I've met my quota for the whole week in just two days:)

I live in California where it has been pretty pleasant recently. A few weeks ago, I was stepping out the door to go running at about 9:00 a.m. It was about 47 degrees outside and I said, no way! It is damn cold out there and ran my ass to the fitness center at our apartment complex.

Moral of the story: You are better than me. For I am a California wimp.

Hello ninja daughter. I love the big pictures. What a great look using the frost from your windows to create your header. I've never seen icycles on eyelashes before. You are amazing. We got to experience 3 below the other evening, so I know it was cold for you. Love you! Mom

Julia, I've been reading you blog for almost a year now and I wanted to finally say hi! I've loved your pictures and hilarious stories. I found you because Darci (@withthisring) is my cousin! I just wanted to say hi and keep up the good posts because I love them :)